A new project currently being developed will have robots replacing
IDF soldiers on patrols along Israel’s borders.

The project was initiated by the families of Benny Avraham, Adi
Avitan and Omar Sawaid, who were kidnapped by Hizbullah terrorists in
October of 2000, as they were patrolling the security fence along
Israel’s border with Lebanon. The IDF determined the soldiers were
killed either during the attack or immediately afterwards.

On January 29, 2004, the bodies of the three soldiers were returned
in exchange for 435 terrorist prisoners. Hizbullah also returned
abducted Israeli citizen Elchanan Tenenbaum as part of the deal.

Among the terrorists Israel released was Mustafa Dirani, a Hizbullah
terrorist who held missing IAF navigator Ron Arad for several years
and was believed to have information on what happened to him.

Haim Avraham, father of Benny Avraham, told Arutz Sheva on Wednesday
that the revolutionary project is being developed in collaboration
with the IDF´s Engineering Corps and the College of Management in the
city of Rishon LeZion.

“The project aims to develop robots to fill the roles of soldiers
patrolling the border and so far the college has developed six
robots,” Avraham said, adding that he hopes other institutions will
join the project.

“The institute which is creating the robots will not be able to
evolve unless additional factors, other than the three families,
support it as well,” he said. “It requires many resources. We are
making efforts to get more resources and have so far distributed 160
scholarships to students participating in the project. We also
received a large donation from an anonymous donor for the project.”

Avraham said that he believes the robots will be able to provide a
partial solution to kidnappings of soldiers, noting, “It´s not a
solution to all the kidnappings, just for border patrols. Terrorist
organizations take advantage of the proximity to the border and study
our soldiers’ routines. Our robots will move along the border and,
based on a decision of the commander stationed at the control point,
they will also be able to shoot.”

In the interview, Avraham also spoke of Israel’s decision to transfer
100 bodies of Palestinian Authority Arab terrorists currently buried
in Israel, as part of the deal reached with PA prisoners to end their
mass hunger strike. The Prime Minister´s Office later said the deal
was a goodwill gesture to PA Chairman Abbas.